Selective valve for radiators



Jan. 13, 1931. R. o. PFEIFFER SELECTIVE VALVE FOR RADIATORS Filed March1, 1930 Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNETE,

RICHARD o. PF-E-IFFER, or NEWARK, new JERSEY SELECTIVE VALVE FORRADIATORS Application filed March 1, 1930. Serial No. 432,323.

My invention relates to improvements in valves such as are used on steamheat radiators, to enable the rapid'discharge of cold air from theradiatorto permit the filling of the radiator with steam.

lVhile the commonly used radiator valve compensates for gradual changesin temperature, it does not, at all times, enable the rapid discharge ofcold air from cold radiators, to quickly heat the radiators, and it iscommon practice, therefore, to remove the valve screw, or the entirevalve, so that there will be no obstruction to the rapid escape of thecold air.

However, after all the cold air has escaped, steam will also escape inlarge quantities, resulting in scalding the hands in replacing the valveor valve screw, and if one forgets to replace the valve or valve screw,the escaping steam quite frequently damages the walls and furnitureadjacent the radiator.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a radiator valvehaving thermostatically controlled means for permitting the rapid escapeof the cold air from the radiator and to automatically shut off theescape of steam when steam is up.

It is to be understood that my improved valve is not to be substitutedfor the valve now so extensively used on radiators, but is to beemployed in conjunction therewith, and it is so designed that the oldvalve, after it has been removed from the radiator, can be screwed intothe casing of my improved valve, the casing in turn being screwed backinto the radiator to take the place of the old valve.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, areaccomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawings,forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevational view of the end coilsof a radiator to which the ordinary valve is secured,

Figure 2 represents a similar view of the radiator but shows my improveddevice secured thereto in combination with the ordinary valve,

to the radiator, the

Figure 3 represents an end elevational view of my improved device,partlyin section, illustrating the thermostatically controlled valvesuspended by' the, thermostatic element, and r V Figure 4 represents atop plan view ofmy improved device, partly in section,secured radiatorbeing represented fragmentarily. H V

My improved device consists essentially of four parts, namely, a casing1, a valve 4, a thermostatic element 7 and a valve guiding bracket 10. vv

In its preferred form, the casing'l is providecl with a cross-shaped airpassage 2-(se,e ig. which communicates with a valve seat 3, the latterbeing preferably in the form of a tapered aperture, the lower end ofthevalve 4 being preferably-shaped to correspond with the valveseat 3,with which it cooperates to form a pressure-tight closure.

Extending from the. valve 4 is a conical head 5, the underside '9; ofwhich is designed to receive the free end 6 of the thermostaticelementor spring i the other end of said element being secured to thecasing by any suitable means, as, for instance, by screws 8. Extendingfrom said conical head 5 is a reduced extension 16providedwith a'knob17, the reduced extension being. designed to engage with and be guidedby a suitable aper ture 18 in the valve guiding bracket 10, which may beof anyfdesirecl or convenient shape and secured to the casing by screws11 or the like. l/Vhen the thermostatic element is cold, its free end 6extends inwardly, in position to engage the recess 9. ofthe valve head5. J T

\Vhen it is desired to quickly h'eatjthe cold radiator, the co'ldairis'allowed to escape throughthe aperture 3iby raising the valve 4 by itsknob 17 until the freeen'd' 6 of the thermostatic element 7, ridingalong the cof nical head 5 of the valve 4, snapsinto engagement with theunderside 9 o f the head 5, thereby supporting thef'va'lve't clear ofits seat 3. hen thethermostatic' element 7 expands, on being heated bythe heat of the radiator and easing l, and steam that escapes throughaperture 3, it withdraws from the underside of the valve head 5, so thatthe valve will automatically drop into its seat 3 and prevent the escapeof steam.

To repeat the operation of the valve 4, the valve is simply'raised tothe position where the free end 6 of the spring 7 will engage theunderside 9 of the valve 5, as outlined.

Ininstalling my device, the ordinary-radiator valve 15 is removed fromthe radiator and the nipple 13 of my improved device is threaded into:'the threaded radiator opening 14 from which the ordinary valve 15 hasbeen removed, anclethereafter .valve 15 is secured to the casing 1 of myimproved device so as to communicate with the air .passage z, so thatthe valve 15 will function g in the casingl asjit' functioned whensecured di e t y 'i radiatqr.

By simply removing the screw 12 which is threaded into the air passage2, on the inletside of the valve, said passage may be readily cleanedfrom time to time. In the preferred form of ;my invention the ordinaryradiator valve '15 is usedin combination with the thermostaticallycontrolled valve as set forth.

The user may, in a heatingsystem wherein the radiators are provided withmy improved device, provide .for the more rapid "heating of a certainselected radiator or radiators, "by manually raising the thermomllolithennovementcofithe valve in one clirection relatively to the airpassage, and a screw in :the=casing closing said air passage on theinlet side of the valve, said screw loein-gremovahletoclean the airpassage.

This specification signed this 13th day of February, 1930.

RICHARD O. 'BFEIFFER.

statically controlled valves .on onlythe selected radiator or radiators.

The deviceherein disclosed hasbeen found positive and fool-proof inoperation, and, consisting of essentially few parts, e c onor ni-. calto manufacture.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Lettel's a ent, .5

"1. In a device of the character described, a casing-provided with avalve seat and with an a passage mmu i ing wi h aid seat, a val e {and ath rmo e em t si cured to said casing adapted, when cold, to be engagedwith and suspend the valve clear of t ai passage, nd, h heated, owithdraw from the valve so that the latter will drop and c os th v ve' eIn a device of the character described, a casing provided with alongitudinal air pas age and with a ve t a v lv s a c mmunicating withsaid air passage, avalve, and a thermostatic element secured to saidasing adapted, when col to e engage wi h the valve t pen the v clear ofthe valve ea and wh n heated, toiwithra om the valve, o th tte at er idrop and close the valve seat.

,3. In a device of the character described, a casing provided with anair passage and with a valve seat communicating with said air passage, avalve, a thermostatic element igi y s c d t o end t said sing, the otherand freeend of s id. elem t b ing

